The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-10
Bossism-Its Danger to the Democratic
Party.
Ne,c York Herald.

to party than boss. The very ex
istence of a boss shows that all vital
ity and self-respect have gone out OF
a party's councils-that there is nei-
ther freedom of speech nor of action.
Napoleon was the greatest boss OF
modern times. He absorbed France
to feed his vanity, leaving France a
shell and himself an exile. The
Democratic party, with its fine sense
of loyalty and discipline, it's desire
to follow and serve, has always been
in danger of q boss. We especially
have felt the insatiate rapine of
Tweed and the brutal arrogance of
Kelly. In every instance, with uner-
ring fatality, the boss business has
injured the party which permitted it
and the country which the party
claimed to serve. Tweed preferred
. Democratic defeat in 1868 to the
success of a Democrat whom he could
not control. To Kelly we owe the
misfortunes of Tildeu and the defeat
of Hancock. In every case the good
of the party was sacrificed to ambi-
tion of some mere man, hungry with
the greed of being boss.
This business Of municipal gov
ernment is not an overwhelming mat
ter. We have managed to get on
with various species Of officials,
and would not break down who
ever was elected; and there is no
reason why mere local canvass for
the selection of candidates should
menace the control of the nation.
Yet this is what the boss movement
in New York threatens. The De.
mocracy are to lose the fruits of
victory gained after twenty-five years
conflict. to feed the vanity of new
boss-to allow Grace to masquerade
in the attitude of Tweed and Kelly.
Grace has unique qualifications for
boss. lie is. suave, courteous, calm,
obliging, and knows his own mind.
He believes that more flies are caughC
by honey than by vinegar. He is
master Of the art Of wheedllng. A
practical man, he knows the value of
money m politics. and the power
which the control of money brings.
He knows the terrors dormant in the
District Attorneys pigeon holes, and
that with unchalIenged control over
the finances, justice and the police,
he can dictate terms. 1t is fault
in his leadership that he is an ambi-
tious man, craving Office as well as
power. If his ambition could be sat-
isfed with useful Office, no one
would care much. There are plenty
Of offices lying around for the hungry
politician-Mayor, Register, Alder
man, Coroner even. But it is not in
reason to satisfy Grace now, unless
we make him candidate Tor Cover
nor. This would displace Hill and
force the friends Of Hill into a con-
test with Cleveland, giving US, in
stead of a compact, victorious party,
dissension and alrost sure defeat.
Anout that, under ordinary circum-
stances, we should rot care much, nor
distress ourselves over any inferno.
cine party quarrels, but for the pro-
found conviction that the highest in
terests of the country are to be
served by the continuance Of the
Democratic power for at least four
years more.
There are higher issues than the
brawls Of ward politicians. The
Democratic party under Cleveland
came into power as an antiphilogistic
influence, to tranquilize the nation
and soothe the irritations and infam-
nations of the war. With what sue
cess this has been done the general
prosperity and content will attest.
Peace reigns in our halls. Plenty
smiles upon teeming acres. Every
day is radiant with some new victory
Of peace. We celebrate the glories
of the cotton field on the plains which
twenty three years ago were reeking
with the smoke of burning Atlanta.
To arrest this all glorious, bene6cent
work; to restore to power the party
of haired and sedition; to permit the
Republican party to resume sway
until adversely had chastened it into
q return to the wise leadership Of the
Lincoln days, would be an unspeak-
able calamity. And yet this is what
the Democracy of New York city
threatens to do when it allows q
smooth, persuasive, energetic boss
like Grace to district its councils and
divide its strength.
Remember how Tilden was de-
prived Of his true power as national
leader! Remember how New York
was wrestled from Hancock! Re-
member how nearly Cleveland came
to defeat and, above all things, re
member that these losses and dan.
gers came from the uncballenged su-
premacy Of boss like Kelly.
United, the Democracy can do as
they will with the city and nation.
Divided, the Democracy may have
Grace for boss and lose the State and
nation.
Choose
Charlpston'S Public Building.